The organizer of the first round of the XXV Neverfading Stars tournament was FC Dynamo. It took place on January 28 in the arena of the CSKA Sports Complex and was dedicated to the memory of the honored coach of the USSR Gavriil Dmitrievich Kachalin.
Before the start, all those present observed a minute of silence in memory of the deceased Boris Petrovich Ignatiev, Lyubov Danilovna Khusainova and Mukhsin Mukhamadiev.
1) Dynamo – Lokomotiv – 0:0
2) Dynamo – CSKA – 3:0 (Likhobabenko – 2, Markin)
3) Dynamo – Spartak – 1:0 (Dubrovin)
4) Dynamo – RFU – 0:0
5) Dynamo – SVF - 3:0 (Markin, Gavrilin, Likhobabenko)
1st match. The match of the two best teams of last season was held in an equal struggle. In the first half, Dynamo were actively looking for approaches to the opponent's goal, in the second it was better for the railwaymen. There was even a moment when the goalpost saved us.
Andrey Tveryankin: In this episode, I was covering the near corner, waiting for a blow after their hectic attack. When the ball was on the other flank, there was no one there at all. The ball did not hit the post, but gently stroked it.
2nd match. The game started with almost a goal in our goal, when Tveryankin miraculously deflected the ball to the corner. But then Dynamo firmly took the game into their own hands. Mikhail Markin made a juicy low shot – 1:0. Valery Likhobabenko easily moved the ball after a feed from Stanislav Dubrovin – 2:0. And again Likhobabenko ambushed the ball, beaten off by the goalkeeper after Gavrilin's strongest blow – 3:0.
Alexey Kutsenko: We have two newcomers (Maxim Romashchenko and Likhobabenko), and both played great. It helped us. Besides, the rivals have not yet adjusted to them.
3rd match. Spartak players did not set difficult tasks for our defense, and Dynamo players relied on Dubrovin in attacks. He distinguished himself in one of the episodes, bringing the team victory.
Viktor Losev: Spartak players are in a weakened lineup today, they didn't put any strikers. But this does not detract from our victory, it is difficult to overcome a viscous defense.
4th match. Dynamo, inspired by two wins in a row, offered a high-speed game. The opponent did the same. Dynamo tried their best to score a goal. The opponent responded in kind. As a result, it turned out to be a draw of teams of equal strength.
Mikhail Markin: Both teams are already tired, and the second wind has not yet opened. It is only through frequent substitutions that we maintain the pace of the game.
The 5th match. Pretty quickly, Dynamo opened the scoring: Markin's strong shot, rebound and goal – 1:0. The rest of the goals were the results of counterattacks, when two ran away on one. Romashchenko passed Igor Gavrilin – 2:0. Gavrilin prudently passed Likhobabenko – 3:0.
Vladimir Dolbonosov: We were preparing for a tough match, and we were right. Lokomotiv and the RFU team were every bit as good as we were. And the big score in those two wins isn't fooling us; they were hard-won. We were helped today by what's called a "deep bench" and the successful debuts of newcomers Likhobabenko and Romashchenko.
Dynamo roster: Andrei Tveryankin (goalkeeper), Andrei Novgorodov (captain), Vladimir Skokov, Stanislav Dubrovin, Aleksandr Tochilin, Mikhail Markin, Aleksey Kozlov, Igor Gavrilin, Maxim Romashchenko, Valery Likhobabenko.
Reserves: Erik Yakhimovich, Aleksey Kutsenko.
Team manager: Vladimir Dolbonosov.
Dynamo veterans Mikhail Skokov, Viktor Losev, Anatoly Piskunov, Sergey Kozlov, Andrey Smetanin, and Alexander Verizhnikov supported their home club.
Team places and the best players of the January tour:
1) Dynamo – 13 points (Valery Likhobabenko)
2) Lokomotiv – 12 (Alexander Mirtov)
3) RFU – 12 (Alexey Titenkov)
4) CSKA – 9 (Sergey Likunov)
5) Spartak – 8 (Dmitry Odintsovo)
6) "Torpedo" – 6 (Maxim Rosenberg)
Nikita Simonyan Cup was awarded to Dynamo to the most productive team – 7 goals.
Says the hero of the day Valery Likhobabenko
In 1997, Alexei Alekseevich Petrushin invited me to Dynamo, and I spent two seasons in the reserve team, and I played consistently in almost every match. I usually played under the forwards. Adamas Solomonovich Golodets fielded the main squad in the Intertoto Cup match, then we played with the Norwegians in Oslo. I remember the heat was suffocating.
I am very glad that Vladimir Vladimirovich Dolbonosov found me and invited me to become a Dynamo player again. Today we had a good offensive game, and I don't think I spoiled the overall game of the team.
The host of the second round, Spartak, invites rivals to the arena of his Academy. The date will be determined later.